Blackman speaks to Marion Lions Club
Marion Lions Club held its first meeting of 2006 Thursday at Stone City Café, Marion.
Jim Christensen opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. David Branson led the club in prayer and Fred Helmer led the club in singing "Home on the Range" in honor of Kansas' birthday this month.
Peggy Blackman, coordinator for the RAPS project at Marion Lake Watershed, spoke to the club about the serious sediment problems at Marion Reservoir. Blackman said there was no fast fix to the problem. She has been working with producers and landowners to help reduce land erosion by building terraces, waterways, etc. Landowners and producers have been cooperative with this project.
She also discussed the blue-green algae that has been a problem in recent years. One of the major causes of this has been the sediment filling Marion Reservoir.
The lakes in Marion County account for millions of dollars of revenue to local communities and businesses each year. The reservoir also is a major water resource for the communities in the county. By reducing the sediment flowing into the reservoir along with other measures, the growth of blue-green algae can be slowed, said Blackman. Some of the benefits would be less expense to the cities of Hillsboro and Marion in water treatment.
